Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-09-01
DIVISION PLATFORM.

RESOLVED. That we Te-afiirln the
declaration already many times made,
in constitutional conventions, legislative
assemblies, and in memorials to congress,
that We ale unalteTably opposed to adj
mission as a whole,
2. This convention declares for the
division of this territory into North Da-
kota and South Dakota, OH the seventh
Standard parallel, and that we seek such
division, for tie reason, among others,
that good government economical and
well administered, will be more readily
secured thereby for both seotions than
by.admission as n whole. Thai thereby
we shall have our proper and rightful
representation in congress, preserve that
inst balance of power TO which a great
population should be entitled. and sec'fre
the highest permanent good for both
north and south Dakota.
3. That we earnestly urge upon the
people the great Importance of casting a
full vote upon this question.
4. That ON behalf of the people OF
south Dakota, we extend tothe people OF
north Dakota, greeting: And that we
cordially invite them to join in a large
and overwhelming vote for division upon
the seventh standard parallel.
d lildk IilC CotlNClittOh dilltlIS INr
conviction that it is the just and primary
right and province OF a people about to
be admitted to the union to designate
their state boundaries, subject to be
modified with their consent upon the
proposal of congress, for grave reasons
only affecting the general welfare.
And that due regard being had to the
circumstances and development of Dak-
ota, to the history and practice of the
government in the admission of states
and to the general welfare of the union.
All these considerations unite in dictd-
ting the division of the territory in ae-
cordance with the plan submitted by the
act OF the territorial Legislature to the
suffrage of the people at the November
election for 1887.
O.. That the communication of the re-
suit of such vote to the president aud
congress as provided for inthe act of
submission is founded upon the great
constitutional right Of petition; and that
we held Ii TO be- the Qdty of congress IN
the Just exercise OF its discretion TO grant
the prayer of such petition.
7, While we recognize the fact that
the constitution oonfers upon congress a
lust discretion in the ADMISSION Of new
states, we protest against the unjust and
~tyrannous exercise OF power by refusing
to admit a new state into the union
upon an equal footing with other states,
after having fulfilled the purposes OF
territorial life.
3. That oug claims for division and
admission are of tllat importance TO de-
mand the attention and support of the
people of the United States without
distinction Of party, and that in our ef-
forts to determine our own boundaries
and II secure the full rights of citizens OF
the United States, we most earnestly APP
peal 10 tiieir n Of justice, to their
understanding of the blessings of free
government to AID US in u cause.
o. That this convention approves and
endorses the efforts of Senator Dawes
and others during the sessions OF the
forty eighth and farty-nintl. congress,
looking to the opening TO settlement OF
a portion of the great Sioux reservation.
10. That we respectfully request the
president of the United States the sccre-
tary OF Tire interior aid the commission
er of Indian affairs TO recommend to the
fiftieth congress the passage Of q measure
providing for the opening to settlement
of a portion or 3 whole of the great
Sioux reservation, and we respectfully
request the members ofthe hdieth con-
gross TO pass such an act.
IL. That the denial Of our right to
division and admission for so long a
period after compliance with all the
conditions and requirements for adj
mission is without precedent IN the
history ofthiS government and contrary
to the principles Oh shich tie govern
mel. i founded; and if people pos
sessing the territory, ,le s neAn-
~telligeHce, morality and the population
requisite for a great commonwealth,
can so long be kept out of slie union. by
the exercise of arbitrary power, we may
well feel uncertain fof tile future and Of
the security Of orr republican institu
: